The Little Gooseberry Tree, Buchanania arborescens, also known as Satinwood and Sparrow's Mango is an evergreen, small graceful tree, native to monsoon tropical forests of northern Australia, South-East Asia and the Solomon Islands. The tree grows up to 20 meters in height.

Buchanania arborescens leaves are spirally staged, smooth, leathery, elongated and rounded, 5-26 cm long, 4-6cm wide and concentrated at the end of the branches. The flowers are very small, cream to yellowish white in color, 3-4mm across with 5-6 petals, born in panicles at the end of the branches. Leaves are used as fodder for animals.

The edible fruit of the Little Gooseberry Tree are globular, small, 1 cm long, reddish to purple-black when ripe. Fruit is consumed fresh but also used in sweets and confectionery products. The seeds of the Little Gooseberry Tree are also eaten and reputed a substitute for almonds.

Tree propagation is by seed. Buchanania arborescens is a member of the family Anacardiaceae the genus Buchanania, which is related to the mango tree.

Little Gooseberry Tree, Buchanania arborescens

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The key to successful fruit and nut production is the provision of a beneficial environment for the trees that bear them.